Narada Bhakti Sutra - Post 62

Sutra 56. Gaunee tridha gunabhedaad aartaadibhedaadwaa.

[Secondary devotion is of three kinds according to the qualities, Sattva, Rajas and Tamas and according to the distinction of the aspirants, the afflicted, the seeker after knowledge, the self-interested.]

Gaunee: secondary (Bhakti)

Tridha: threefold

Guna-bhedat: according to the difference of the qualities, viz., Sattva, Rajas and Tamas

Aartaadi bhedaat: according to the distinction of the worshippers as the afflicted, the seeker after knowledge, the self-interested 

The primary type of devotion (Ahaituki or unmotivated) through which the devotee attains his beloved Lord has been discussed in the previous Sutras.

However, man does have his vasanas manifesting in the form of three Gunas - Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. In an earlier sutra, we read about Guna Rahitam (Devoid of qualities / Transcending the three Gunas or qualities).

In this Sutra, Devarishi explains in a subtle way as to how in Gauna Bhakti, through these three Gunas, a devotee can gradually rise and evolve in his devotion to ultimately transcend the three Gunas.

Let us understand about these three Gunas and how they affect a man / a devotee. Prakriti is composed of the three Gunas or forces, namely, Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. 

Sattva is harmony or light or wisdom or equilibrium or goodness. Rajas is passion or motion or activity. Tamas is inertia or inaction or darkness.

During Srishti or projection, a vibration arises and the three qualities are manifested in the physical universe. The three qualities bring bondage to the Jiva or the individual soul.  

(Thus, while  giving a session on creation, the author often connects this to a Jiva and says, “Like the creation could take place only with a vibration causing a disturbance or non-equilibrium in the three guna, you, as a jiva, also create your world and swing into action in your created world causing karmas for you, only when the equilibrium in the three gunas in you gets disturbed and one of them dominates the other two. As long as all the three qualities are balanced, you will be in Samadhi and you will never create a world (create here means perceiving) for yourself for you to jump into the world to Act!!!!)

Though Sattva is a desirable quality, yet it also binds a man. It is a golden fetter. 

Rajas is the source of attachment and thirst for life. It causes attachment to action. 

Tamas binds man to heedlessness (Pramada), laziness (Alasya) and sleep (Nidra). 

These three qualities are inseparable. No one is absolutely Rajasic or Sattvic or Tamasic.

SATTVA

Sometimes Sattva prevails in man. He is calm and serene. He sits quietly and entertains sublime, soul-elevating thoughts. 

He studies religious scriptures. He talks on divine topics. When Sattva prevails, the other two qualities are overpowered for the time being.

When the wisdom-light streams forth from all the gates of the body, then it may be known that Sattva is increasing.

RAJAS

At other times, Rajas prevails. He does action. He moves about. He plans, schemes, speculates. He craves for power, wealth and action. When Rajas prevails, Sattva and Tamas are overpowered for the time being.

Greed, outgoing energy, undertaking of action, restlessness and desire - these are born of the increase of Rajas.

TAMAS

Sometimes Tamas prevails and the man becomes slothful. He feels lazy, indolent and lethargic. He is dull and feels sleepy. When Tamas prevails, Sattva and Rajas are overpowered for the time being. 

Darkness, delusion, stagnation, heedlessness - these are born of the increase of inertia.

In some people Sattva is predominant; in others Rajas is predominant; and in some others Tamas is predominant.

Devotee progressing along the three Gunas

A tamasic devotee, striving hard through devotion, will get slowly transformed into a rajasic devotee.

The Rajasic individual can, through even mote intense devotion, rise much higher and as a result of his strong Bhakti, will eventually come into the Sattvic stage.

Intense Rajas takes a Sattvic turn. A man who is immersed in deep Rajas will take to Nivritti Marga or the path of renunciation. He will, as is the law, be fed up with activities. 

"For a sage who is seeking Yoga, action is called the means; for the same sage when enthroned in Yoga, serenity is called the means." Ch. VI-3. B.Gita

The Sattvic seeker can easily go to the highest, but even there, one is conditioned.

Only when the devotee out of the immensity of his love, rejoices in surrendering even his sattvic qualities at the lotus feet of his beloved Lord, he transcends his vasanas totally and merges with the lord. When even Sattvic quality is transcended in pure devotion, the state of such a devotee is “PURE SATTVA”.

  

Then, in the second classification, there are 3 kinds of devotees - Artha, Jignasu and Arthaarthi.

Artha

Draupadi

A devotee with this nature is the one in whom there is a discontentment with all the material life can give and he demands immediate and sure remedy to all issues related to his material needs.

Draupadi and Gajendra were aarta bhaktas. They were in distress.

Jignasu

Krishna-Uddhava

Jignasu is the one who feels the presence of an ultimate reality but intellectually he is discontented because he cannot understand and experience the ultimate reality.

Uddhava was a Jignasu bhakta.

Arthaarthi

Dhruva

Arthaarthi is also discontented with his present condition and therefore longs to find his fulfillment among his desired worldly objects.

Dhruva was an arthaarthi bhakta. He wanted dominion.

Above all these three, stands a man of highest perfection. Such a man of perfection is known as a Gyaani

Gyaani

Gyaani belongs to the highest type. He becomes one with the state of SELF / GOD. Such a state is expressed in the previous sutra where it says, “He sees nothing else, He hears nothing else, He thinks nothing else”.

Hanuman is a perfect example of a Gyaani who had transcended all the qualities and for him, there was nothing to see, to think, to meditate, to speak of, other than Sri Rama.

Love.